Salsa Terminology

[Pacion]

What terms do you read/hear that are associated with salsa/mambo? I would like to compile a list with their "meaning" :D

The few that immediately come to mind are:

- salsa romantica
- descarga
- sabor

[Sabor]

yes? :lol:

afrocuban
rumba
shake yo bonbon :lol:

[MacMoto]

Without offering the meaning...

- salsa dura
- salsa moderna
- clave (2-3, 3-2, contra)
- on1
- on2
- casino (a.k.a. Cuban style)
- rueda (de casino)
- shines
- Cuban motion

Is your glossary going to include specific steps and moves too? If you start going into rueda calls, you will end up with a huge list...

[Pacion]

yes? :lol:

:doh: :lol:

MacMoto, it was just something I thought of that would be fun :oops: Was not planning to have specific steps and moves otherwise we would be here for days/months/many seasons :lol: just "basic" terminology

For example, you said "salsa moderna". I would guess that it means "modern salsa" pertaining to music? My next question is - what type of music (with examples :wink: ) would fall into "modern salsa"?

Another term I just thought of:

- sonero/a (salsa singer?)

[Haz]

Just wondering what the difference is between on1 and on2. If its the beat you start your step to, then I thought on1 would be normal, on3 would be more of a cuban style, and on2 is only done when the song is sort of slow and gives the feel that you are chasing the beat.

How far off am I?

[Sabor]

hello Haz..

ok.. quick general preview, this is my take on the timings:

on 1 = the obvious beat basically referred to mostly as LA Style.. to date that is the most commonly danced internationally.. its 123 567

on 2 = mambo time.. referred to mostly as NY style.. u dance on the beat rather than with it (on 1).. as in u 'ride it'.. u have the Al Torres version (i think mostly developed as a middle ground betw. on 1 and on 2 dancers, cause here, you step in place with left on the 1 and then back w/ right on 2 - so u do move on the one but its the 2 that is accentuated) and the original power 2 version (which i personally go for when dancing on 2 where gents sart straight w/ right foot back on 2) .. its pure 234 678.. the 1 & 5 are the pauses instead of the 4 & 8 in LA Style..

on 3 = usually referred to as cuban time .. but they vary in that they are very clave oriented .. and would often explain their timing by saying they are either on tiempo or contra-tiempo (following the bass rythm in the music)

hope that helps a little, at least with regards to the on 1 and on 2 timings.

[Haz]

Does clear up a lot of things. Is there much difference in the moves in the NY, LA, and cuban styles? I guess the shines would be different because the footwork is running on different timings but what about the basic moves and such?

Thanks a ton for clearing these things up...they are terms I've been tackling with for a while now. And by the way, my leading glossary source for translating half the things I read on this forum is at:
http://www.planetsalsa.com/university_of_salsa/glossaryae.htm

Dunno if that helps any but "sonero" is listed there as :
"Originally meaning an interpreter of the son form, it describes a lead singer with the important ability to improvise lyrics, relevant stories, and melodies."

Cheers,
HAZ

[borikensalsero]

Salsa Romantica - Love Themed Salsa music, but mainly from around 1982 to early 1990s.

Decarga - an "improv" jam session within a song, also a term for the combination of music generas which the songs were all improv, but very well be in one genre. They had a set beginning and a set end, but the middle was basically everyone on their own blasting away.

Sabor - On sweet writting dude here in DF. :P - The dance of the soul, the shake of a body that breaks technique. Usually limited by the inability of a dancer or musician (mind) to break the confinments of technique. Technique not being the limit per se, but the persons inability to see passed technique. Not everybody has it... Watch and old little cuban guy dance. It says, I'm all flava/sabor... The best way to describe Sabor, is Sabor has Sabor in his writting. It isn't just writting, it is his soul speaking and hands typing.

Salsa Dura - The Classics, mainly from 1968 to 1982, Filled with Sabor, and percussion to lift a deads person's sprit. Some people other genres of cuban music here too.

Salsa Moderna - Turn your radio on to a salsa station, the crap you hear, that is salsa moderna, which can also be thought off as Tropical Salsa, and Pop Salsa. Huey Dumbar, Frankie Negron, Ray Ruiz, Some of Marc Anthony's stuff, some other is Salsa Romantica...

Calve 3-2 - also known as a forward clave, 3 beats on the first bar of 4 (1, 2and, 4), and 2 beats on the second bar of 4 (6,7).

Calve 3-2 - also known as a reverse clave, 2 beats on the first bar of 4 (2,3) and 3 beats on the second bar of 4 (5, 6and, 8 )

The clave is the underlaying basic structure of salsa, as well as two little wooden sticks that are struck against each other to create the particular sound of "ta..ta..ta, tata" (3-2) or "tata, ta..ta..ta" (2-3)

The contra as I know it is dancing on the off beat, as dancing the contratiempo of the music or the 2. Which means dancing to the clave, the congas, or on2.

Shines - Solo dancing...

Cuban Motion - In the US known as the swaying move of the hips.

[MacMoto]

Just wondering what the difference is between on1 and on2.

You may find this page useful:
Breaking the "Breaking": Mystery of Salsa Timing (http://www.dancefreak.com/steps.htm)

There are different ways of dancing on2, but when people talk/argue about on1 vs. on2, I think they are usually talking about the "Eddie Torres style" (what's described as "Mambo Tipico Two" on the above page).

[Sabor]

Sabor - On sweet writting dude here in DF. :P - The dance of the soul, the shake of a body that breaks technique. Usually limited by the inability of a dancer or musician (mind) to break the confinments of technique. Technique not being the limit per se, but the persons inability to see passed technique. Not everybody has it... Watch and old little cuban guy dance. It says, I'm all flava/sabor... The best way to describe Sabor, is Sabor has Sabor in his writting. It isn't just writting, it is his soul speaking and hands typing.

now, is boriken great or is boriken really great? :D .. personally i think he's Great^2.. minimum 8) .. i'm surprised how come the DF ladies aren't all in NY already :!:

[SDsalsaguy]

Is there much difference in the moves in the NY, LA, and cuban styles? I guess the shines would be different because the footwork is running on different timings but what about the basic moves and such?

Yes, there are any number of differences, ranging from small stylistic ones to much larger, technical ones.

Unfortunately I'm on my way out the door at the moment but, if no one else has tackled this by the time I get home tonight, I'll try to give you some more specifis.

[Come on everyone, I'm about to have a lond day... help Haz, and me, out]

[peachexploration]

HAZ, start with this link:
http://www.clubsalsa.com.au/whatissalsa/danceinfo/index.shtml

It gives an overview of differences as well as similarities. :D

[borikensalsero]

Sabor - On sweet writting dude here in DF. :P - The dance of the soul, the shake of a body that breaks technique. Usually limited by the inability of a dancer or musician (mind) to break the confinments of technique. Technique not being the limit per se, but the persons inability to see passed technique. Not everybody has it... Watch and old little cuban guy dance. It says, I'm all flava/sabor... The best way to describe Sabor, is Sabor has Sabor in his writting. It isn't just writting, it is his soul speaking and hands typing.

now, is boriken great or is boriken really great? :D .. personally i think he's Great^2.. minimum 8) .. i'm surprised how come the DF ladies aren't all in NY already :!:

:oops: :oops: ... That's what I'm asking myself... Why aren't the ladies here? Thanks for the props Sabor :D :D :D

[sbsalsera]

Here are some commonly-encountered dance terms.

Salsa specific (maybe even LA-style specific?):
forward basic
back basic (Cumbia steps)
side basic (Cuban breaks, Cucarachas)
box basic (jazz box)
T-stance/Lunge stance
Copa
Titanic

General dance terms:
cross body lead
hammerlock
sweetheart position
peek-a-boo/in-and-out
line of dance
open/back break
rock
pivot
hook/pencil/spot/paddle/chenet/chase turn
back/forward spot turn
spin
spotting
center (as in "move from your center")
contra-body movement
check
ronde
1st-5th foot positions
syncopation
measure (of music)
grapevine
swivels
Suzie Q
bachacata
(shoulder) shimmy
body wave

That's all I can think of right now...

[Haz]

Is there much difference in the moves in the NY, LA, and cuban styles? I guess the shines would be different because the footwork is running on different timings but what about the basic moves and such?

Yes, there are any number of differences, ranging from small stylistic ones to much larger, technical ones.

Unfortunately I'm on my way out the door at the moment but, if no one else has tackled this by the time I get home tonight, I'll try to give you some more specifis.

[Come on everyone, I'm about to have a lond day... help Haz, and me, out]

Thanks for the links. I downloaded, watched, and re-watched every video I could get my hands on and with the descriptions I can pick out the styles and watch the moves they do. Gives a good idea of the dancing techniques associated with each of them.

Question I have now is for the music. Just today someone mentioned that only a certain club plays Cuban music in Stockholm on Wednesday nights...then I was left thinking (and probably looking) like a complete dummy assuming that all the styles are danced to the same type of music.

I know salsa can be danced to everything (ya I'm one of the ones that tries to dance on 3 on every song playing on the radio - rap salsa is one fun experience lemme tell ya), but what are the music types, and possibly links to info or song examples, associated with the typical salsa types.

Thanks and hope everyone is having a happy Easter. BTW, my partner suggested a 4 hour practice on Easter Sunday...nice stuff eh? Cheers.

HAZ

[Sagitta]

[I know salsa can be danced to everything (ya I'm one of the ones that tries to dance on 3 on every song playing on the radio - rap salsa is one fun experience lemme tell ya), but what are the music types, and possibly links to info or song examples, associated with the typical salsa types.

Thanks and hope everyone is having a happy Easter. BTW, my partner suggested a 4 hour practice on Easter Sunday...nice stuff eh? Cheers.

HAZ

I dfinitely will be having a good Easter. I'm gong to eb learning a little tango tonight hopefully...

So, you dance on 3 as well. That is the style taught here in Ithaca by the instructor whom I go to. It isn't common other places that I have been. Is it common to break on 3 where you are?

[Haz]

I honestly couldn't tell ya what is common around here. I'm only taking the salsa class that my partner suggested here in Stockholm (only here on exchange and don't know the salsa scene that well). I think I scored the right style for my personality though. I love the intricate hand moves and combinations that the Cuban style consists of. Can't perform even a fraction of them yet, but it's really fun to watch and do (to whatever limit I can).

At first my partner taught me to break on 1, but in class the instructors teach on 3. Tis why I started groovin on 3 to every song that had an even time bar in it. With enough practice with the radio and dishes to wash, it wasn't hard to learn everything I knew on 1, shifted to 3 :wink: .

[borikensalsero]

Question I have now is for the music. Just today someone mentioned that only a certain club plays Cuban music in Stockholm on Wednesday nights...then I was left thinking (and probably looking) like a complete dummy assuming that all the styles are danced to the same type of music.


hello Haz,
Not to be mean, but most people will tell you Cuban, just because they themselves don't know what it means. They hear someone say it, then they repeat it not really knowing what they are playing or are about to hear. Very, very few people will know what cuban music is, or what music they mean by cuban

There are a bunch of cuban music genres, a bunch, here in NY City when an event gets advertised as cuban it can mean a number of things. They will play Rumba as in (Columbia, Yambu, or Guaguanco), or they can play any of the decendants of Danzon mixed together with Rumba in form of Cha Cha, Son, Son Montuno, Guaracha, Guajira, Charanga. Or they probably mean Cuban Salsa, or the New Timba stuff. Which leaves us wondering which they mean, not until you show up do you know what they meant by cuban, so the safe approach is to think general and believe they will all be played. But, if you happen to know what group is performing, then you know what they meant by cuban.

Guajira, and Son, son montuno are like cha chas, which for the sake of an easy explanation, they are like a very slow tempo salsa. Son can be rather upbeat as well. A guaracha is like a salsa as well. It is very hard to explain them, usually the person needs more of a music background to know their musical differences, one which I do not posses to attempt an explanation. So, All I'm left with is to learn what they sound like, and advise the same...

I don't know much about rumbas except that I can say what is what, when they are played.

[Haz]

Thanks for the info. I'll try to find the different styles as best I can and learn to hear them for what they are. The gal who informed me about the salsa club also mentioned that the reason she didn't take salsa lessons here in Stockholm was because she visited Cuba for quite some time and learned it well down there. Could be wrong (barely know her) but I think she knew what she meant...she didn't specify any further though. Thanks again for the help.

[pelao]

parts/phases/characteristics in songs:

cascara
repique
swing/feeling/sabor
montuno
moña
cortina
mambo
comparsa
soneo
sonero
llamada-respuesta
pregon
tumbao

some other similar genres/dances (the older generation listened/danced to this a lot!):

bolero
boogaloo
watussi
pachanga

[salsachinita]

Suggles....!!!!!!

Since Non-magic people = Muggles
So..... Non-salsa people = Suggles

8)

[amrimi]

This is a good one. I have to remember this one. I think it should become a fixed phrase.

[SDsalsaguy]

I don't think I've had a chance to say hi to you yet, so "welcome to the DF amrimi!" :D

[peachexploration]

There's also an added reference here :arrow: Salsa Music Dictionary (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=6443)

[BrookeErin]

hello Haz..

ok.. quick general preview, this is my take on the timings:

on 1 = the obvious beat basically referred to mostly as LA Style.. to date that is the most commonly danced internationally.. its 123 567

on 2 = mambo time.. referred to mostly as NY style.. u dance on the beat rather than with it (on 1).. as in u 'ride it'.. u have the Al Torres version (i think mostly developed as a middle ground betw. on 1 and on 2 dancers, cause here, you step in place with left on the 1 and then back w/ right on 2 - so u do move on the one but its the 2 that is accentuated) and the original power 2 version (which i personally go for when dancing on 2 where gents sart straight w/ right foot back on 2) .. its pure 234 678.. the 1 & 5 are the pauses instead of the 4 & 8 in LA Style..

on 3 = usually referred to as cuban time .. but they vary in that they are very clave oriented .. and would often explain their timing by saying they are either on tiempo or contra-tiempo (following the bass rythm in the music)

hope that helps a little, at least with regards to the on 1 and on 2 timings.

Thank you, it finally makes sense.... and I dance what I am led :oops: I don't know enough about salsa music to know the downbeat... I just feel it.

[Salsaonone]

"Yes" -sometimes comes in a form of a hand and/or smile (maybe a nod). --- This is the good one...make sure everyone knows this one. If asked to dance, use it all the time. If asking someone to dance, this is the word you are looking for and should get (should being ideally). I cannot under-represent how important this tiny three letter word is in the world of salsa.

"No" --sometimes comes in the form of a head shake from side to side....or frown--- this is a bad bad bad word....EVIL if you ask me. This is the vocabulary of the sith, darth vaderesque....

"Not another dang Merengue!" Heard often by people who know how to dance salsa, and want to dance salsa, but the dj has played the 55th speed merengue in a row.


"Ah a merengue, I can dance now" --Typically heard by latin club beginners. If you can't master the basic merengue, well, hmm...good luck dancing any partner dance.

"Wow, I would like to dance Bachata with her/him". Nudge nudge wink wink....know what I mean??

"I'm sorry" used by the leader or follower who is not as good as their partner while dancing. If you are receiving this message and you want to dance again with this partner, good or not good, say nice things back to them!! If you are saying this to your partner, you are not as good as they are but if they respond in a nice way, you feel comfortable to dance with them again especially after you get really good and remember who was nice to you when you first started out.

"Its 2am already?? It was just 10pm!!" Used by the majority of people bitten by the salsa bug and cant understand how fast the night went by and have to figure out how to get by until they can dance salsa again.

[msjanemas]

Salsa

Salsa = A word expressing the enjoyment of Mambo, NY Sound Latin Music. Equivalent to saying "Give me some Soul" when R and B, Funk and Blues audiences utter the expression to demand more from the performers. Thus Soul and Salsa have the same meaning

Salsa: Cool

Dame Salsa: Give me a great solo

Que Salsa: What a jam!

[Lucretia]

I'm sorry I'm a bit off the purpose of this post ....

I would like to build a collection of salsa pattern names. I also want to find out what names that are international and what names that are more local (Gothenburg or Cuban ones :lol: ).

But before I start a new post I ask you who have been at DF longer than I have - is there such a post anywhere?


/luc

[Sabor]

hello Haz..

ok.. quick general preview, this is my take on the timings:

on 1 = the obvious beat basically referred to mostly as LA Style.. to date that is the most commonly danced internationally.. its 123 567

on 2 = mambo time.. referred to mostly as NY style.. u dance on the beat rather than with it (on 1).. as in u 'ride it'.. u have the Al Torres version (i think mostly developed as a middle ground betw. on 1 and on 2 dancers, cause here, you step in place with left on the 1 and then back w/ right on 2 - so u do move on the one but its the 2 that is accentuated) and the original power 2 version (which i personally go for when dancing on 2 where gents sart straight w/ right foot back on 2) .. its pure 234 678.. the 1 & 5 are the pauses instead of the 4 & 8 in LA Style..

on 3 = usually referred to as cuban time .. but they vary in that they are very clave oriented .. and would often explain their timing by saying they are either on tiempo or contra-tiempo (following the bass rythm in the music)

hope that helps a little, at least with regards to the on 1 and on 2 timings.

Thank you, it finally makes sense.... and I dance what I am led :oops: I don't know enough about salsa music to know the downbeat... I just feel it.

it does?! :shock: ... :lol: most welcome.. yet, when i was reading what i wrote again i noticed that i may hve erred in describing Power2 .. it shoud have read "where gents break w/ left foot fwd on 2".. or at least thats how i came to know it.. but breaking fwd or bwd is not an issue at all.. the main thing is that Torres2 style recognizes the 1 dance beat while for Power2 its a pause..

there.. now pls. tell me i confused u again... :lol: j/k

but.. practically speaking.. on the floor what u siad and I dance what I am led .. I just feel it... is what matters.. feeling it is what matters.. anything over that is extra. :D

[Salsaonone]

Thank you, it finally makes sense.... and I dance what I am led :oops: I don't know enough about salsa music to know the downbeat... I just feel it.

Yeah, once a follower has her part down, it doesnt matter what the leader is doing, they just have to go with it...a good follower can make almost any leader look good...as long as she can smile, and figure out the off beat steps of a new/bad leader....someone told me (and I agree) that its almost unfair to the leader (and here I mean male) because most women who take a dance class have danced most of their lives, while the man who shows up to learn has not and they are burdened with all the responsibilities of the lead...so be nice to us! 8)

[BrookeErin]

nope, you haven't confused me again 8)